US1616411A - Draft gear - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 1 1927,

L. T. CANFIELD DRAFT GEAR Filed April 28, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1 1927' I I... T. CANFIELD DRAFT GEAR Filed ADIil.28. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .Zizua 07 02.4455 Z Oa/UZaLd J9; flaw, MW W5 Patented Feb. 1, 1927.

own-: "STATES rArEN-r IoFFIcE.

' LEWIS 'r. ommnnor CHICAGO, rumors, nssrenon 'ro UNION DRAFT GEAR 00.,

' or cmcneo, ILLmoIs, A CORPORATION or DELAWARE. I

DRAM GEAR.

' Application filed April as, 926. Serial No. 105,140.

The invention relates to draft gears for' railway cars, its objects being to secure high efficiency and simplicity of construction.

The invention consists in a structure such as ls'hereinafter described and as illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in'which view of'the center .Fig. 1 is-a detail plan frame members of a car, with the improved gear applied thereto, the gear being shown in central plan section, in release position;

' Figs. 2 and'3 are views inperspective of elements of the gear; Fig. 4: is a central plan section'of the gear under full compression; v

' Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line 5-5 of Fig.4; and w Fig. 6 is a central plan section of the gear, showing a modified form of construction.

The center or. draft sills of a car areshown at 10, a pair of draft lugs at 11-11, and a pair of bufiing lugs at 12 -12. There is used in connectionwith'the gear a pair of plate followers 13, 14 which cooperate respectively with the draft and bufiing lugs. The

butt of a drawbaris shown at 15 and the yoke 'or drawbar extension which encircles the gear is. represented at 16. All ofthese are a plurality parts are of any preferred construction.

The gear comprlses a barrel 17 in the form of a heavy helical spring formed of a coiled bar which is rectangular in cross-section,

- one of the faces of the bar forming the bore of the barrel. The ends of the barrel are seated against laterally. extending flanges as 18, 19, of a pair of wedge blocks 20, 20, which flanges bear against the inner faces of the followers 13,14.

Cooperating with the wedge blocks 20, 20 of sector-shaped wedge shoes the shoes of each set are three 21. As shown, extending through approxl- A mately 120, though a greater number may be employed if desired. The wedge faces of the blocks 20 correspond in number to the shoes.' t

In the preferred form of construction each set. of wedge shoes is enclosedwithin a longitudinally divided sectional shell 22, one e ment 23 of which is shown in perspective in Fig. 2 While these shells 'are shown as comprising two elements each, extending through 180, it is obvious that thefy may be composed of a greater number 0 sections of correspondingly less circumferential extent. The shoes21 are provided with longi- .sh ow lengtii full compression of the gear.

-tudinal extensions 24 projecting beyond the bases of the wedging portions and bearing against and conforming to the inner surfaces ofthe shells 22. "Helical springs as 25 react between the head or wedge portions of the U shoes 21 and end walls 26 of the shells 22.

The inner ends or end. walls 26-of the two that it will [not interfere with the Normally the parts assume'the positions as shownin Fig. 1. Upon the application of compressive forces either of draft or buff .one of the followers 13, 14 is advanced coinpressing the spring of which the barrel 17 is constituted and forcing the wedge shoes 21 radially outward against the walls of the shell elements, thus expanding the shells and forcing themv against the inner surface of the barrel. The shoes 21' are carried forward by the advancing follower against the resistance of, the springs 25, the shoes at the opposite end of the gear being advanced against the wedge block 20 with which they coop-' 'era-te and expanding theshell by which they are enclosed. The shells .are carried forward by the frictional engagement with them of the wedge shoes and against the frictional resistance between them and theinner surface of the barrel.

to permit the use of a bolt of such shells 22 are always in contact and obviously The parts are soproportioned that when the gear iscompletely compressed they assume the relative positions as shown in Fig. 4, the spring constituting the barrel 17 being completely closed and the ends'of' the shells being in contact with the flanges as 17, 18' of the wedge blocks. .Releasejis ef-" fected by the expansion of the spring form-- ing the barrel, and thesprings 25 prevent a too violent action on release by holding the wedge blocks. Y 4

In the construction illustrated in Fig. 6

. wedge faces ofthe shoes contact with the the wedge blocks, wedge shoes and barrel may be as shown in the form already described. The shell, however, consists ofa pair of longitudinally continuous sections 28, 29 cooperating with both sets of wedge elements and not being provided with a transverse web. The central springs 30 react directly between the two sets ofwedge shoes.

The action of the gear when made this form will be the same as inthe form of'Fig. 1 except. that upon release the shell is re.-

' stored only by the frictional action and it may never return to the central position shown in 'Fig. 6. The efliciency of the gear, however, will not be in any wise diminished because of the floating character of the shell. \Vhile preferred for-ms of construction are .shown various changes in detail may be shaped wedge shoes inclosed within each end of the shell, spring means resisting the relative approach of the two sets of shoes, wedge blocks cooperating with each set of shoes, and followers for advancing the blocks and longitudinally compressing the barrel.

- 2. In a draft gear, in combination, a barrel formed of a helical spring, alongitudinally divided shell inclosed within and frictionally engaging the barrel, a of sector; shaped wedge shoes inclosed wlthm each end of the shell, spring means resisting the relative approach of the two sets of shoes, wedge blocks cooperating with each set' of shoes and having laterally extending flanges engaging the ends of the barrel, and 'followers for advancingthe blocks and longitudinallycompressing the barrel. I

3. In -a draft gear, in combination, a barrelformed of a helical spring, a longitudi-.

nally divided shell inclosed within and frictionally engaging the barre'l and having a transverse wall midway of it's ends, a set of sector-shaped wedge shoes inclosed within each 'endof the shell, springs reacting between the shell wall and thetwo'sets of shoes,

wedge blocks co-operating with each .set of shoes and followers for advancing the blocks and longitudinally compressing the barrel.

4. In a draft gear, incombination, a barrel formed of a helical spring, friction elements engaging the inner surface of the .bar-

rel, wedge means for forcing the friction elements agalnst the barrel, spring means resisting theadvance of the wedge elements,

and means for compressing thebarrel longitudinally.

5. In a draft gear, in combination, a barrel consisting of a helical: spring formed of a bar angular 1n CIOSS-SECUOIQOIIB face of the bar constituting the bore of the barrel, friction elements engaging the inner surface of the barrel, wedge means for forcing the friction elements against the barrel, spring means resisting the advance of the wedge elements, and means for compressing the barrel longitudinally. I

In testimony whereof-I affix my signature,

LEWIS T. CANFIELD.

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